Whenever one hears that there is a new art teacher in the vicinity or in the country, one of the first question asked is, “Who is he/she actually and is he/she is good as they say he/she is."

The second question that is asked is, “Where did he/she study art and what qualifications does he/she have?” In other words, are they “Qualified to teach art?”

Let me answer the second question first.

I studied art at the University of Hard Knocks in South Africa. Let me quote something I saw on the back of someone’s t-shirt a few years ago:

The following is a Quote from the Motivational section of our website:

“While attending our usual weekly Entrepreneurs Prayer Meeting in our church hall the other day, I noticed some writing on the back of a t-shirt and I asked that person to copy it down for me. It reads like this :

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

“A good education is an essential part to success. However, one must have a certain respect and admiration for those who have made their marks without the benefit of the traditional university. The benefit of the traditional that we call “street” has given birth to some of the most successful and insightful people in the world.

Many of us would not be here today were it not for the skills and knowledge we acquired and the dues we paid on the streets. There is no replacement for the street sense and instinct. There is no school harder than the School of Hard Knocks.“     Anon

I never attended university, yet I retired as senior mechanical engineer in the highly specialized section of Refinery Piping and Plant Layout and Design in one of South Africa’s top Engineering Firms. The University of Hard knocks, and the experience acquired thereby, eventually earned me corporate membership and Certificate from The Association of South African Registered Engineering Technicians. It still proudly hangs on my office wall!

I never attended University to obtain a degree in the Arts, yet I ended up one of South Africa’s top art teachers with the only Fine Art Franchise (and Member of FASA),  with 5 teaching studios and over 250 students coming to art classes per week! No one in the whole of Africa has been able to achieve that to date.

If you are not able to, or will not be able to, attend formal training in the Arts, so what!. Listen to your heart and your instincts, not to other people who insist on pulling you down with negative remarks and advice. Persevere, no matter how long it takes you, no matter how many tears you shed along the way. Give honour and recognition to all the people who have helped you along the cobbled road to success.

Seek out positive artists to be your mentors, join your local art club or society, buy as many art books as you can, re-join your local library. If you cannot find a personal mentor, don’t worry, that is what this website is all about. The Paint Basket has had wonderful feed-back from all over the world of how we are helping from absolute beginners through to art teachers. Let this site be your 24 hour a day mentor. Use the forum to post questions, send us scans of your completed project and we will give you feedback on them, etc. Isn’t it amazing how the attitudes of others always tends to rub off on those around them - a sour workmate can quickly turn others sour. But on the flip side of the coin - if you mix with positive people, you also stay positive. Anything you count worthwhile is more than worth the effort, time and money you put into it. ”           unquote

Before I talk further about myself give me the opportunity to add just one more item from our South African Website” and I quote:

“Are You a Professional Artist?

by Dennis Clark

The difference between Professional and Amateur - Part 1

It would seem that for many years there have been “discussions” or “arguments” about what constitutes a professional and/or an amateur.

I have, for a long time, keenly followed letters by readers of The Artist( a U.K. magazine), in their “You write” column where readers express their views and opinions., especially the arguments about what constitutes a professional and amateur. There have been those who know exactly what the difference is between the two, but too many just bandy the words professional and amateur around without having the foggiest what they really mean!

What is a Professional?

According to the New Century Dictionary:

I. a. Professional, Pertaining to, connected with, or appropriate to a profession or calling…….also engaged in one of the learned or skilled professions, following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain (as, a professional soldier);………also, undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain, or by professionals rather than amateurs.
II. n. Professional, One belonging to one of the learned or skilled professions; also, one who makes a profession or business of an occupation, etc.,esp. Of an art or sport in which amateurs are accustomed to engage for amusement or recreation.

What is an Amateur?

According to the New Century Dictionary:

I. n. Amateur, One who cultivates any art or pursuit for the love or enjoyment of it, instead of professionally or for gain: often implying desultory action or crude results.
II. a. Amateurish Like or suggestive of an amateur, as in crudeness or other faults.

The difference between Professional and Amateur - Part 2

I would like to state right now that, in regard to the definitions in part 1, there are amateurs who deliver “professional” quality work, and, vice versa, there are “professional” artists who deliver very amateurish, atrocious and very poor quality work! In saying this I qualify these statements by stating that this has nothing to do with subject matter, whether fine art on one side or abstract on the other.

A professional is a person who:
1) Makes a living (earns his/her keep) painting and selling their work in order to provide for themselves and their family. Painting, for them, is NOT a hobby or leisure activity.
2) Prides him/herself on the quality and technical proficiency of their work. Hence the term “professional”, as in professional quality paint, professional quality paper, etc.
3) Acknowledges that there is always a need to improve. They never stop studying as there is always more to learn.
4) is expected to (and should) be skilled in his/her “craft”.

An amateur is a person who:
1) Does not make a living out of art, even thought they may sell their paintings. Just the plain act of selling does not mean one is a professional per se. It is only making one’s hobby pay for itself!
2) Paints only for pleasure and as a hobby for recreational purposes.

**********************

Does a degree or diploma make you a professional?

Emphatically NO! The certificate on its own certainly does not.

My experience is that many degrees and diplomas are not worth the ink on the paper. Why do I say so? Firstly, I have had school teachers in my classes who gave art at school as a subject and who did not even know the basics of teaching art, let alone the basics of art itself. All of them have admitted, in class, that they have learned more at our studio in one month than in two years at college. Secondly I have, at present, a student with a three year Diploma (Degree) from one of our Technikons and I am surprised at what they have taught her; or rather what they did not teach her. For example, she has very little idea about colour-mixing or proper perspective. She has only been at our studio for a few months now and the improvement in her work is so dramatic that she can hardly contain her excitement. What a waste of three years!

We have students, with absolutely no previous experience, who turn out professional quality work after only three or four months training. There are amateurs and amateurs - the good and the bad! Similarly there are professionals and professionals - the good and the bad!

The degree or diploma on its own really means nothing. What really counts is what you do AFTER you have received it(them). Most stop right there. They think that they have been taught everything that there is to be taught, and now they know everything. Remember, there is nobody who knows everything about art in general. The subject is far too big and complicated. It is a “House with many mansions”. Professionals do not know everything!

Cezanne once remarked; that after devoting his whole life to mastering his “craft” he was still making “slow progress” each day. (Artist’s and Illustrators, Mar 2001 p34)
What a lesson in humility and humbleness from a great man!

Why is it that there are some professionals who look down on amateurs?

Is it because they pride themselves on their degrees and/or diplomas, which most amateurs do not have? Is it because they have the mistaken belief that they are better artists than amateurs? Is it also because they think they are more technically proficient than amateurs?

The truth of the matter is that professionals are also prone to making mistakes, even if they do not want to admit it.

unquote

(more info to follow)

Testimonials

Edenvale Paint and Palette Group.

Lastly, I was a member of the above group of artist for many years and became a highly esteemed member and demonstrator. They said that they were very sorry to see me go and wished me well in New Zealand.

Here some excerpts from just 2 of their News Letters:

“Margaret Bree’s watercolour demonstration proved popular with the good turn-out we had in August 18. We are most grateful to Dennis Clark, master artist, who videoed and relayed Margaret’s demonstration on the screen, enabling everyone to have a wonderful view of her painting techniques.“  Spring 2007

“Dennis Clark delighted us with his “cheetah” perfomed in pastel, his demonstration was full of unexpected new tips and hints and the members commented on his peaceful style of teaching. Thank you Dennis, for once again enlightening us on so many new ideas ….” Autumn 2007

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A few of Dennis’ art work depicting some of the the various genre and mediums he paints in.

Black Rhino at Rest - pencil	Serenity - pastels
Shangaan Chief Israel Ngobeni - Oils	Crested Barbet - gouache
Africa's Big 5	Free State Landscape - Oils
Cosmos Flower Study - watercolour	Chachma Baboon - pencil
West Coast Farm  -  watercolour
The Money Fountain - Oils	My Uncle Bill - charcoal (1950)
Lion Portrait in Pencil  -  2010	Tiger Portrait in Pencil  -  2010

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